: a long narrow excavation dug in the earth (as for drainage)
ditched; ditching; ditches
1
a
: to surround with a long narrow cavity in the earth : to enclose with a ditch (see ditch entry 1)
The pasture was hedged and ditched.
b
: to dig a ditch in
2
aviation
: to make a forced landing of (an airplane) on water
successfully ditched the plane
Examples of ditch in a Sentence
Noun
He drove the car into the ditch.
after skidding on the ice, our car went right into the ditch
Verb
The thief ditched the purse in an alley.
They ditched the car in a vacant lot.
They ditched me at the concert.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
In more rural areas, however, adaptation might require moving outdoor work hours to after sunset, when temperatures drop, or covering irrigation ditches to avoid excess evaporation that could leave crops parched during droughts.
—Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025
Audrey Noble, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Black faith leaders called on pastors to urge their congregations Sunday to join a 40-day boycott of Target in a campaign to push back against companies that have ditched diversity initiatives.
—Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ditch
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Noun
Equip yourself with these guidelines from the NWS to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:
Beware of rapid water flow:
Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.
—Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
In more rural areas, however, adaptation might require moving outdoor work hours to after sunset, when temperatures drop, or covering irrigation ditches to avoid excess evaporation that could leave crops parched during droughts.
—Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
Most recently, Millie Bobby Brown ditched her signature brunette for a bombshell blonde with lush long layers.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Black faith leaders called on pastors to urge their congregations Sunday to join a 40-day boycott of Target in a campaign to push back against companies that have ditched diversity initiatives.
—Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ditch
Cite this Entry
“Ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ditch. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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